For New Albany to inaugurate a rental property reform program with teeth would be Priceless -- and it must occur, with or without him.

During the course of idly Googling “rental property” and “accountability,” we’ve come across an incisive presentation of an aggressive rental property reform program that is discussed within the context of an economic vision plan formulated by a wide spectrum of community leaders in Vallejo, California.

Readers will recall that the question of rental property inspections was one of many clumsily sidestepped by 3rd District Councilman Steve Price in his recent interview with NA Confidential.

And yet the largely uncontrolled and unregulated proliferation of rental properties contributes -- in some ways, enables and perpetuates -- the culture of unaccountability and dysfunction that must be reversed if the city of New Albany is to move into the future.

In no uncertain terms, and contrary to CM Price’s transparently lukewarm (and toothless) advocacy of “cleanliness” and “homeowner’s … responsibility,” we feel that the precepts elucidated in the Vallejo Rental Property Program below eloquently testify to the need for New Albany’s elected officials to publicly identify and confront the abuses intrinsic to those rental properties that are poorly maintained and intentionally neglected, often (but not always) by absentee landlords who profit from the vulnerability of those in society who rent living space, but more insidiously, bear a disproportionate share of the responsibility for the degradation of New Albany’s neighborhoods.

But this is only one part of what is needed to help reclaim our neighborhoods.

In 2005, the city of New Albany made an important start by establishing the position of ordinance enforcement officer. Concurrent with the work of the OEO and a rental property program like Vallejo’s, we must have a functioning city court and a full-time city attorney to complete the cycle of accountability and to establish a foundation upon which to build a better quality of life.

It simply isn’t enough to have rules on the book. There must be the means of enforcement.

And there must be the political will to provide those means. Do we have it? We know who doesn’t. Who does?

It isn't enough to say that we can't afford it, because we can't afford not to try.

None of this is to imply that rental properties should be eradicated by Stalinist executive order, or that the full range of community housing options should not include apartment living, either downtown in older homes that have been turned into apartments, or in suburban apartment complexes built to order. Renting is part of life … and what we need most is to regulate it for the greater good of the community.

As the following clearly indicates, the benefits of rental property inspections are many, impacting both the quality of neighborhood life and economic growth in the city as a whole. Add to this the mechanisms of a city court and a full-time legal presence, and the benefits are obvious.

As with all things even remotely progressive, Steve “we can’t” Price already has opted out, so who among our elected officials intends to take the lead?

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Vallejo's Economic Vision Process

Vallejo's Economic Vision came about through a series of meetings with community leaders, including civic entrepreneurs, elected officials, municipal professionals, education and health care, business and industry, tourism, neighborhood and environmental leaders.

The participants developed an economic vision based on the principle that a vibrant economy is necessary to achieve a healthy, proud community and a high quality of life. The vision confirms and reinforces the need for community partnerships to address the human, social and infrastructure needs of Vallejo as it moves toward economic sustainability.

The number one priority of the City Support Structure subcommittee of the economic vision process is to develop and implement a comprehensive program to ensure code compliance for rental property and landlord accountability.

With the Economic Vision Process determination that improving rental housing was a high priority of the City, a preexisting group, already looking at rental housing, was asked by the City to develop a solution. This group, comprised of the Chamber of Commerce, rental property interests, realtors, community members, Fighting Back Partnership, and others, had been meeting for over a year prior to the Vision process recommendations. The Rental Property Sub-group has been meeting for over two years developing a rental program that reflects the interests of all interest groups on the committee.

VALLEJO RENTAL PROPERTY PROGRAM

A Comprehensive Community Model

This is to be accomplished by developing, passing and implementing a new city ordinance that would, in part:

• Contain an inspection process for all rental property
• Impose fines for violations of the ordinance on property owners/property images
• Establish a database of all rental property, and
• Include an enforcement process
• Would, as much as possible, be financially self supporting

Myriad benefits that would contribute to cleaner, safer neighborhoods are expected to result from the implementation of a rental inspection ordinance, and include:

• Increased property values
• Increased rental demand
• Decreased general calls for police services
• Decreased calls about rental property problems to Code Enforcement
• Increased property management involvement in solving rental property issues

Why Does Vallejo Need a Rental Inspection Program?

Rental inspection programs are designed to accomplish three main goals:

• To clean up rental stock
• To improve the quality of life in neighborhoods
• To increase the economic value of single family homes and other rental residences

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Follow the links … there’s much more at the site itself.

To reiterate, if you're the elected official who's going to take the lead on this issue, please step forward.

Time's getting short.